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Location: Thompson Project Summary
Overview Over the past 9 years streambank restoration sites have been undertaken on the Bonaparte River with over 75 sites now stabilized. Significant areas of severe steambank erosion remain with high risk of further erosion. During recent watershed planning processes sponsored in part by the FSWP a series of watershed scale goals and objectives were generated. Water quality, water supply, fish and fish habitat have been consistently identified as dominant water related issues during the process. Some watershed issues were identified relating to groundwater extraction and minimum flows to protect fish and aquatic values. Various participants have suggested water storage improvements and development of alternative sources to help support fish stocks, secure agricultural supply, and mitigate dramatic highs and low flows that are anticipated from extensive pine bark beetle impact. The proposed project will provide information regarding trends and conditions that will enable water management improvements to be recommended. Objectives Methods The method used will include three elements as follows: review of existing technical information, field reconnaissance to fill information gaps pertaining to flow and groundwater sources in relation to fish utilization, and review of water storage site operation and management such as the Bonaparte Dam to help identify feasible alternative water storage opportunities that benefit fish, agriculture and forest hydrology within the watershed. Existing documents describing water management practices and water inventory resources of the Bonaparte watershed that are readily accessible will be reviewed and summarized into a format that will begin to lay out a trends and conditions inventory of the watershed from a water management point of view. A look at process and products from the Nicola WUP will be undertaken to determine what aspects could be transferable to the Bonaparte Watershed scenario. Information gaps regarding water management practices and water resource inventory will be identified through community discussions about of the information that is available and gaps analyses to identify missing information key to effective water management in the watershed. Some preliminary (not exhaustive) flow and temperature monitoring will be undertaken in reference to information gaps that have been identified. A review of the operation of the Bonaparte dam will be undertaken, which has been repeatedly raised as an issue requiring review during watershed planning meetings. Interest in the intended function and operation of the dam and the intended use of water stored by the dam needs to be clarified before progress can be made on a watershed- wide water management plan. Results will be documented and mapped so hat next steps can be identified in the Bonaparte water management planning process.
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